Fire Prevention assembly at the Reinbeck Elementary

October 21, 2012

October 7th through the 13th was Fire Prevention Week. In recognition, six men from the Reinbeck Fire Department visited with kindergarten through fourth graders at the Reinbeck Elementary. Aric Stickfort started off the small assembly by engaging the kids and asking them what they knew about Fire Prevention Week. Many little hands shot up with answers like, "Don't play with matches," and "Don't go back into a burning building." All of the children seemed to be very informed about fire safety, but in case they were not, Aric talked to the children about having a fire escape plan with their families.

Another issue they addressed was what a full suited fire man would look like, and what you were to do whenever you would see someone dressed up like that. Justin Farley slowly put on his gear while the Aric quizzed all of the classes about what he was putting on. While this was happening, Doug Egesdal walked around with one of the oxygen tanks that a typical fireman wears on his back. Once Justin was fully suited he began talking to the children that to us sounded very muffled. Aric explained that even though Justin looked very intimidating, that the kids were not to be scared of him. If they were to see anyone dressed like that in their home, they were told to not hide from them. Fire fighters are there to help you to safety.

For Fire Prevention Week, third and fourth graders were asked to draw posters. Then winners were picked from both grades. The first place winner from fourth grade goes on to compete against other winners. Last year, Ella Murphy won first place in Reinbeck elementary. Her poster then went on to compete and came out third overall in the state. This years winners for third grade were: third place Emma Fleshner, second place Savannah Ellenberger and first place Tatum Ridout. The fourth grade winners were: third place Belen Ellenberger, second place Saari Kuehl, and first place went to Dillan Riffey.

To wrap up the assembly, the third graders were lined up, and asked to fill a bucket of water that was only styrofoam peanuts, and pass it through the line to put out the fire on the other end. This game was to symbolize The Bucket Brigade, or what people did back when we did not have fire trucks, or any of that fancy equipment. The game also was to show that, "team work is very important," said Doug to the children after the game was finished. "It was fun," was all that Emma Schlichtmann, a third grader at Reinbeck elementary, had to say.